Jeff Bobo

ROGERSVILLE — Two wings at Rogersville Middle School haven’t had hot water in the restrooms for at least 15 years, and none of the bathrooms at the school have dispensers for toilet paper, paper towels or soap.

RMS Principal Jim Ailshie told the Hawkins County Board of Education’s Buildings and Grounds Committee last week that his school should receive resources similar to other schools in the county, including those dispensers.

RMS is the largest middle school in the county with 520 students. He told the committee he has been told by school maintenance director Bill Shedden that toilet paper dispensers and hand towel dispensers for the school restrooms would be a school expense.

Ailshie reminded the committee that each board of education is required by state law to “provide the required personnel, supplies and equipment.”

According to Tennessee Code Annotated, Tennessee public schools are free, and money raised by students must be used to finance normal and legitimate extracurricular activities.